According to reports, Michael Smurfit marked his 90th birthday in typically lavish style this weekend, with around 150 friends and high-profile guests said to have gathered for a celebration in Monaco.

The gathering took place on Friday evening at the five-star Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, with a number of well-known Irish figures reportedly making the trip for the occasion.

Businessmen Dermot Desmond and Denis O’Brien were said to be among the guests, while Prince Albert of Monaco was said to have attended as a special guest of honour.

Smurfit’s long-time Russian girlfriend Yana Melnikova, who is over 30 years younger than him, was also in attendance.

Dancer Michael Flatley was reportedly spotted at the event with his wife Niamh, while New York-based hotelier John Fitzpatrick and former Fine Gael minister and EU commissioner Phil Hogan were also understood to have attended.

There was a personal tribute to the birthday boy from his son, Tony Smurfit, who is understood to have spoken about his father’s life and career during an emotional speech.

The lavish gathering comes as little surprise given Smurfit’s history of marking milestone birthdays in spectacular fashion.

His 70th and 80th celebrations were similarly extravagant, with his 80th birthday marked by a week-long event aboard a superyacht attended by more than 100 friends, family members and VIP guests.